The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1887-01-22

md the only man who had news
paper was reading away for dear
life, when a stranger entered with
Two sachels and Il tall girl, chuck.
cd the baggage under u seat, waved
ihe girl TO another, and walked up
10 the man With the newspaper
and asked:
Mister, is there anything in the
paper about our coast defencesap
"No, sir ~ was the gruG reply.
"That's singular. Have they
given up the idea, do you think I"
81 don't know what you mean,
sir.r
"You don't! Why, they've been
for the last year about
building forts to protect our coast.
l live down near the mouth of
Toms river, aud | rather expect
they'll build II big fort there. The
way that things are now England,
France or Germany could declare
war against us and land % force at
Toms river before we had our
eyes open. They'd land right on
my farm, aud nobody knows the
damage they'd do. Don't see any
thing about u fort at Toms river,
eh ~
MOP
"Well, that's singular. If this
government expects me to get
down behind rock with my old
shotgun and keep Europe from
landing at that point it's expecting
a leetle too much of one man. I'd
fight to the death, of course, but
the chances are that hull navy
could lick one nigh sighted man.
SO the paper don't say anythingp'
"Didn't / tell you no in the first
place 2"
"Say mebbe you don't keer a
copper about coast defences y
exclaimed the two.sachel man, as
n red spot appeared on either
cheek.
"Not u copper, sir.'
81 thought so from the start
You live out in Michigan, or lndi'
ana, or Illinois, and are tucked
away in some holler where the
sheriff can't find ye, let alone an
Invader of our sacred sile! Oh,
no, you don't keerln
Father!n chided the tall girl,
MS she half rose; but he turned
on her with
MARY, you keep she'll I've
alI'ys thought if Europe declared
war agin us we'd have plenty Of
enemies right at home, and here's
a case to prove it. Stranger, did
you fight in the last war 7"
"None of your business, sir.o
"There's his open hand, gentle
men ~ said the twosachel man as
he turned to the crowd. "When
you find a man who don't keel
how soon the hull of Europe jumps
on this country you have found q
man who'd dig up the bones oI
Washington and sell 'em to a junk
man for five dollars !"
The man with the newspaper
laid it down, got on his feet, ant
asked the other If he would steI
out doors a minute.
"No, Sir, | won't ~ was tn,
prompt reply. In the fust place
pve got these two sachels TO puT
tect; in the second place. there
Mary in the third place, | dom
fight with no man who didn't fgh
in the last war. In the fust plac
| asked ye If there was anythin
in the paper about our coast dc
fences.n
"And | said no, you idiot!"
"And you said you didn't keer.
"Neither do I.p
"There's his hand agin, gentle
men! While Pm lying behind
rock at Toms river, waiting to Sc
my life in defense of my countr
here's feller from Coon HOLE
State OF Indiana, who don't ke'
!, q cooper's copper how quick L
rope kivers the sile of New Je
sey with the blood of our brave
!. men,"
Father!n chided Mary again.
- "Lemme alone, Maryl "
know all about carpet rags al
:, darDiDg and housework, but "
> never heard the rumble of wa
. If Europe is going to jump on
:, this country want to know who
: going to shoot me in the back
l face the enemy"
n. The man with the newspapt
4. opened il and sat down with
Il dangerous glitter In bis eyes, an
1 there was solemn silence 70
few minutes. Then the Tom